State and Federal Court Systems
•Standard: 12.4.5
Discuss Article III of the Constitution as it
relates to judicial power, including the length of
terms of judges and the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court.
Federal Court System
•Original Jurisdiction: Lowest
court’s authority over an issue
•Appellate jurisdiction:
Authority over appeals from
lower courts
The Framers created the Supreme Court as the
head of the federal judiciary, and gave Congress
the power to create lower federal courts.
Framers realized that some kind of national
courts would be needed, at least to resolve
disputes involving federal laws
This function could be left to state courts,
but then the federal laws might be enforced
differently from state to state
Framers needed a system for
deciding cases involving its laws
Framers thought that appointing the judges
by this method rather than electing them
would remove them from the pressures of
political influence
The best way to make sure that judges would not be
influenced by politics was to have them nominated
by the president. The president’s nomination would
need to be ratified by the Senate.
Judges should be independent of politics so that
they can use their best judgment to decide cases
and not be influenced by political pressures
Independent judiciary
Article III
Judicial Branch
Judicial Review was not decided by the Framers
To do so would give the judiciary the
authority to declare acts of these branches of
the national government unconstitutional
This would mean giving one branch the
power to ensure that the other branches did
not exceed the limitations placed on them by
the Constitution
The power to
declare that
legislative acts had
violated their state
constitution already
had been exercised
by the courts in
several states
Some Framers
simply assumed that
the judiciary would
have the power to
rule on the
constitutionality of
laws made by
Congress
The judges would keep their positions
“during good behavior.” This meant that
they could not be removed from their
positions unless they were impeached
and convicted of “treason, bribery, or
other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
“good behavior” basically means for life
Established powers of the Judiciary
To decide conflicts
between state governments
To decide conflicts that involved
the national government
The power of the Supreme Court to
declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
was clearly established by the Supreme
Court itself in 1803’s court case
Marbury v. Madison
The general powers of the judiciary is at
the beginning of Article III: The
“judicial power of the United States,
shall be vested in one supreme court…”
State and Federal Court Systems
State Court Structure
State Supreme Court
Death Penalty appeals,
Disciplinary cases involving
judges or lawyers
State Appeals Court
Appeal their trial court decisions
Superior Courts
58 Trial Courts `(1 in each county)
All criminal cases, All civil cases, appeals of small
claims and other civil cases worth $25,000 or less,
Appeals of misdemeanor cases
State Court can consider cases where:
• Divorce and child custody
• Probate and inheritance
• Real estate
• Juvenile matters
• Criminal charges
• Contract disputes
• Traffic violations
• Personal injury
Federal Court Structure
Supreme Court
(Court of last resort;
decides constitutional
issues)
Federal Appeals Court
(Court of appellate
jurisdiction)
Federal District Court
` jurisdiction)
(Court of original
Specialty Courts: US Claims Court, Bankruptcy
Court, Tax Court (Courts of original jurisdiction)
Federal Court can only consider cases where:
• There is a real legal problem. They cannot make
decisions about hypothetical cases
•The plaintiff was in some way legally harmed by the
defendant
•The law the two parties are arguing about was meant
to deal with the problem they are having
•The court legally has the power to solve the problem
•The issue the two parties are arguing about is still a
problem that matters.
State and Federal Court Systems
Federal Court System
•The Supreme Court selects the cases it wishes to hear.
•In only rare instances does the Supreme Court
have original jurisdiction
•Cases involving two or more states
•Cases involving the U.S. and a state
government or foreign ambassadors or
diplomats.
•Most cases before the Supreme Court involve appeals
from lower courts or cases the justices believe involve
significant constitutional issues.
Why does the U.S. need federal courts?
•Federal Courts are specified in the Constitution
•They deal with issues whose nature is beyond the
state and local level and are of a national concern
or interest.
Why does the U.S. need appellate courts?
•Appellate Courts serve as places where court
decisions in question may be challenged.
Why does the U.S. need A Supreme Court?
•The Supreme Court serves as the interpreter of
the Constitution
•It is the court of last resort
•Needed to settle disputes between states or ones
in which foreign governments or citizens may be
involved
Where Would The
Case Go????
Which court would each
scenario likely fall under?
Employees of Chester Carpet Company Sued
their employer for failing to make pension
contributions as required by the Federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
Employees of Chester Carpet Company Sued
their employer for failing to make pension
contributions as required by the Federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
Federal District Court because it
relates to federal law
Thomas was convicted in a federal district
court for kidnapping a twenty-three year old
woman. He decided to appeal the court ruling
Thomas was convicted in a federal district
court for kidnapping a twenty-three year old
woman. He decided to appeal the court ruling
U.S. Appeals Court because that is
the next step up the pyramid from
Federal District Court
Joe was arrested for burglary. He was tried and
convicted in a municipal court but appealed his
case based upon a question of the validity of
eyewitness accounts.
Joe was arrested for burglary. He was tried and
convicted in a municipal court but appealed his
case based upon a question of the validity of
eyewitness accounts.
State Appeals Court because the issue
was not a federal case initially
The state appeals court refused to overturn a
conviction of Alex for murder. He decided to
appeal to a higher court.
The state appeals court refused to overturn a
conviction of Alex for murder. He decided to
appeal to a higher court.
State Supreme Court would be the
next higher authority
Frances is being deported for lack of a proper
visa. She sues the Department of Immigration.
Frances is being deported for lack of a proper
visa. She sues the Department of Immigration.
Federal District Court because it
involves a federal issue
Frederick is suing his former employer for back
pay.
Frederick is suing his former employer for back
pay.
State court because no federal issue is
involved
Mr. Smith believes he was not hired by a fast
food restaurant because of his age. He sues the
restaurant
Mr. Smith believes he was not hired by a fast
food restaurant because of his age. He sues the
restaurant
Federal District court because it does
involve a federal issue
Joe Running-Eagle represents a tribe of
American Indians who were denied mineral
rights for their reservation, as provided in an
agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
He sues for compensation in the name of the
tribe
Joe Running-Eagle represents a tribe of
American Indians who were denied mineral
rights for their reservation, as provided in an
agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
He sues for compensation in the name of the
tribe
Either U.S. Federal District Court or
U.S. Court of Claims depending upon
the wishes of the plaintiffs lawyer
Harriet felt that she was discriminated against
on an application for a federal civil service test.
She sued the U.S. Civil Service Commission in
a federal district court but lost her case. After
losing a second time in the federal appeals
court, she has decided to appeal again.
Harriet felt that she was discriminated against
on an application for a federal civil service test.
She sued the U.S. Civil Service Commission in
a federal district court but lost her case. After
losing a second time in the federal appeals
court, she has decided to appeal again.
She has no where to go except the
U.S. Supreme Court
John and his family believe they were served
tainted food at a nearby restaurant. They sue
the owner of the restaurant.
John and his family believe they were served
tainted food at a nearby restaurant. They sue
the owner of the restaurant.
Municipal or state courts
The Justice Department wished to bring suit
against several supermarket chains, with stores
in many different states, for conspiracy to fix
prices of grocery and meat products.
The Justice Department wished to bring suit
against several supermarket chains, with stores
in many different states, for conspiracy to fix
prices of grocery and meat products.
Federal District Court because of the
status of the Justice department.
Arnold sued several manufacturers of asbestos
because he claimed he had contracted
asbestiosis as a result of direct exposure to their
products.
Arnold sued several manufacturers of asbestos
because he claimed he had contracted
asbestiosis as a result of direct exposure to their
products.
Federal District Court because of the
likely hood of involving federal
legislation and individuals of several
states.
Bernice wishes to challenge the Internal
Revenue Service’s disallowance of a tax
deduction she considers legitimate.
Bernice wishes to challenge the Internal
Revenue Service’s disallowance of a tax
deduction she considers legitimate.
If she chooses to go to court before
paying, she would likely go to Tax
Court; an alternative would be to pay
the amount in dispute and then sue
for a refund in U.S. Court of Claims
or a Federal District Court
The State of California initiated a class action
suit against a leading woolen manufacturer,
charging the company with a conspiracy to fix
prices of certain blankets and items of clothing
The State of California initiated a class action
suit against a leading woolen manufacturer,
charging the company with a conspiracy to fix
prices of certain blankets and items of clothing
This is a federal case because of the
nature of the issue and would go to a
Federal District court.
A group of farmers are seeking damages
because they claim that the Army Corps of
Engineers built structures in rivers that caused
floods on their property which resulted in a
reduced crop harvest and loss of income.
A group of farmers are seeking damages
because they claim that the Army Corps of
Engineers built structures in rivers that caused
floods on their property which resulted in a
reduced crop harvest and loss of income.
The farmers would probably seek
relief in the U.S. Court of Claims